Conference on the Future of Europe: Values and rights, rule of law, security

Written by Innovation & Strategy

The Conference on the Future of Europe’s aim is to debate how the EU should develop in the future and to give European citizens a voice in the process, announced Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her inaugural address.

People’s ideas will be collected on the Digital Platform, in European Citizens’ Panels and de-centralised conference events all over Europe. The Conference Plenary – comprised of representatives of the Citizens’ Panels, the Parliament, the Council, the Commission, national parliaments, the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee, social partners and the European Youth Forum – will then discuss the ideas put forward. Launched in April 2021, the conference is expected to reach conclusions and provide guidance for the European institutions to follow up, by spring 2022.

The conference topics are divided into nine areas, with one additional ‘open’ area, reserved for out-of-the-box ideas. The topics are: ‘Climate change and the environment‘, ‘Health‘, ‘A stronger economy, social justice and jobs‘, ‘European Union in the world‘, ‘Values and rights, rule of law, security‘, ‘Digital transformation‘, ‘European democracy‘, ‘Migration‘, ‘Education, culture, youth and sport‘, and ‘Other ideas‘.

Discussion in this category will cover the protection of human rights, rights of victims and children, combatting racism and religious discrimination as well as promoting justice and gender equality and the rights of the LGBTIQ+ communities and those with disabilities. At the same time, we will discuss how we can protects Europeans from acts of terrorism and crime and strengthen the rule of law in the European Union.

To support the proceedings of the conference, our EPRS policy analysts have prepared research material, available here in reverse chronological order. The following list will continually be updated as the conference unfolds:

Human Rights

Understanding EU action against human trafficking
Briefing by Piotr Bakowski and Sofija Voronova, May 2021, 12 pages.

Understanding EU action on Roma inclusion
Briefing by Marie Lecerf, May 2021, 12 pages.

Women leading the fight against COVID-19
Thematic Digest, March 2021, 7 pages.

The impact of the coronavirus crisis on Roma and Travellers
‘At a glance’ note by Marie Lecerf, March 2021, 2 pages.

The principles of equality and non-discrimination, a comparative law perspective – United States of America
Study by EPRS Comparative Law Library, March 2021, 100 pages.

The coronavirus crisis: an emerging gender divide?
‘At a glance’ note by Marie Lecerf and Giulio Sabbati, March 2021, 2 pages.

EU legislation and policies to fight racial and ethnic discrimination
Briefing by David de Groot, March 2021, 12 pages.

Combating Gender based Violence: Cyber Violence
Study by Meenakshi Fernandes, Niombo Lomba and Cecilia Navarra, March 2021, 242 pages.

Women in foreign affairs and international security: Still far from gender equality
Briefing by Ionel Zamfir, March 2021, 11 pages.

Covid-19: The need for a gendered response
Briefing by Rosamund Shreeves, February 2021, 12 pages.

Implementing the Anti-trafficking Directive
‘At a glance’ note by Sofija Voronova, February 2021, 1 page.

Women’s rights: 25-year review of the Beijing Platform for Action
‘At a glance’ note by Rosamund Shreeves, February 2021, 2 pages.

Women in politics in the EU: State of play
Briefing by Rosamund Shreeves, February 2021, 12 pages.

Achieving gender equality in the face of the pandemic and existing challenges
‘At a glance’ note by Rosamund Shreeves, January 2021, 2 pages.

Violence against women in the EU: State of play
Briefing by Martina Prpic and Rosamund Shreeves, November 2020, 12 pages.

European gender equality strategy and binding pay transparency measures – Pre-legislative synthesis of national, regional and local positions on the European Commission’s initiatives
Briefing by Claudio Collova and Laura Zandersone, November 2020, 12 pages.

The rights of LGBTI people in the European Union
Briefing by Rosamund Shreeves, November 2020, 12 pages.

The Istanbul Convention: A tool to tackle violence against women and girls
‘At a glance’ note by Ulla Jurviste and Rosamund Shreeves, November 2020, 2 pages.

Gender balance on company boards
‘At a glance’ note by Martina Prpic, September 2020, 1 page.

Women in local and regional government: Still a long way from achieving parity
Briefing by Vasileios Margaras, March 2020, 4 pages.

Women in films: Still fighting the celluloid ceiling
‘At a glance’ note by Ivana Katsarova, February 2020, 2 pages.

Zero tolerance for female genital mutilation
‘At a glance’ note by Rosamund Shreeves, February 2020, 2 pages.

Jewish communities in the European Union
‘At a glance’ note by Magdalena Pasikowska-Schnass, January 2020, 2 pages.

Children’s rights in the EU: Marking 30 years of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Briefing by Ingeborg Odink, November 2019, 11 pages.

EU policies – Delivering for citizens: Human Rights
Briefing by Martina Prpic, Rosamund Shreeves and Ionel Zamfir, June 2019, 12 pages.

Gender Equality
Topical Digest, March 2019, 2 pages.

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Rule of Law

Rule of Law
Thematic Digest by various EP contributors, November 2020, 6 pages.

Protecting EU common values within the Member States: An overview of monitoring, prevention and enforcement mechanisms at EU level
Study by Maria Diaz Crego, Rafal Manko and Wouter van Ballegooij, September 2020, 163 pages.

Addressing violations of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights
Briefing by Wouter van Ballegooij, September 2020, 140 pages.

An EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights
Study by Cecilia Navarra and Wouter van Ballegooij, September 2020, 180 pages.

European added value of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights – Preliminary assessment
Briefing by Wouter van Ballegooij, April 2020, 12 pages.

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Security

Understanding EU counter-terrorism policy
Briefing by Piotr Bakowskiand Sofija Voronova, May 2021, 12 pages.

Understanding EU action against human trafficking
Briefing by Piotr Bakowski and Sofija Voronova, May 2021, 12 pages.

Understanding EU action against migrant smuggling
Briefing by Katrien Luyten, January 2021, 12 pages.

Understanding the EU response to organised crime
Briefing by Katrien Luyten and Sofija Voronova, August 2020, 12 pages.

Victims of terrorism
‘At a glance’ note by Francois Theron, March 2019, 2 pages.

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